NOAA Fisheries has released a report analysing the effects of Covid-19 on the US seafood industry and for-hire fishing sector for 2020.
The U.S. Seafood Industry and For-Hire Sector Impacts from COVID-19: 2020 in Perspective provides an economic assessment of Covid-19 effects on the US fishing and seafood industry in 2020.
This includes analyses of the wild harvest, aquaculture, and the recreational charter/for-hire sectors. Demonstrates that the Covid public health crisis created a turning point for the US and the global seafood industry, while also generating new long-term challenges to expanding the sustainable US domestic seafood sector.
Overall, the NOAA Fisheries analysis of industry impacts are consistent with previous reports that indicate a broad scale and scope of the effects of Covid-19 on the entire sector.
Commercial fishing landings revenue declined 22% in 2020 relative to the 5-year baseline (2015–2019), with all regions experiencing a significant decline.
The aquaculture industry continued to struggle despite the incremental re-opening of restaurants beginning in May 2020.
The recreational for-hire industry saw a decline of more than 17% in trips nationwide from the previous five-year annual average.
Under typical circumstances, US commercial and recreational fisheries and the broader US seafood industry have a broad, positive economic impact on the US economy. These generate more than $200 billion in annual sales and support 1.7 million jobs.
Losses vary by sector, region, and industry. According to NOAA Fisheries, data and information from this report may help businesses and communities assess losses and inform long-term recovery and resilience strategies.
